Boot Scoot Boogie

Skyler is 20 weeks old today and little Miss Independent gave me the greatest birthday gift this past Wednesday.......Skyler started scooting! Sitting content and exploring what was within her reach is no longer interesting to her. Seems like a whole new world has just opened up for little Sky....The World of Mobility!

Tom & I always enjoy spending tummy time with Skyler and while I'm at work, I tend to spend an additional 20 minutes a day on this activity. This past Wednesday, I laid her on her blanket and witnessed the cutest locomotion technique. Her little hands and feet started pushing along her blanket and within minutes, she had made it to the edge. It was so much fun to watch her little watermelon behind wiggle. Her feet were working so hard that one of her socks started to come off. (see in the above picture & isn't that the sweetest outfit, with love, from Auntie Kevie)

They say babies start to crawl between 6-9 months of age. Perhaps our little one has a mssion and just some place to go a lot sooner! lol.....

It was a priceless birthday that I'll never forget. Thank you all for adding more warmth to my special day by calling and sending such lovely cards. Turning 42 was pretty dang neat & it was my very first birthday being a Mummy. I love you all,

A Week of Skyler

I can never get enough of Skyler's smiles & expressions. Hopefully you all can't, either. She's 19 weeks old and every day is amusing. Her laughter & giggles can brighten up any room and it is constant...still being our happy, precious baby!

She's at the stage where she understands her name, recognizes my voice (even in a crowd) and has this new talent of perfecting the ability to taste every object.....large or small! She has even discovered her bottom lip and enjoys sucking on it, giving you that pouting expression. Skyler has a bundle of energy, yet is still sleeping through the night. She wiggles, rolls over, and twists her little body during her sleep. When I wake her in the morning, it looks like she's toured her entire crib!

I'm sure every new mother takes tons of pictures of their sweet ones, especially in their adorable outfits. I am no exception. Below are some wonderful photos of our animated Skyler taken each day during work last week, including this past Saturday. Enjoy!!

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday (above & below)

More double pleasure ~ Thursday.

Friday (above)....and then all big smiles for the weekend. (below)

Skyler shopping with us at Lowe's...cool shoes from Auntie Nicola & Uncle Bogie.

Play time before the Gator game.

A Double Twist of "J"....

.......Jared & Jordan, that is!

Skyler & I had two very special guests joining us for the LHS Football game last Friday. Talk about a special treat! Her cousin, Jared, and his lovely girlfriend, Jordan, drove over from Orlando to help us cheer on the Dreadnaughts. Although this was Jordan's first Dreadnaught football game, she dressed the part extremely well! You just gotta grab some orange, bring your enthusiasm and enjoy the victory ride.....which we all did! Lakeland rolled over the Palm Bay Bayside Bears 38-9.

It was another fun and very hot evening. We have started a tradition at these games. Skyler always visits with her favorite "Naughty" fan, Miss Helen, from the moment we arrive until the National Anthem is played. She just loves sitting on her knee and "chatting" about her week before the game begins at 7:30....lol

Above, Skyler & Helen. Below, two cute shots of Jared, Jordan and Skyler during the game.

After the victory, Skyler got to meet up with her Daddy and the rest of the team on the football field. This was her very first time on Castle Field! I was able to snap some photos of Skyler and her proud Daddy walking. Check out the amazing state-of-the-art-video scoreboard behind them. Just another thing to set Lakeland football apart from the average football program. Pretty awesome for high school, huh?

Just before leaving Bryant Stadium, Skyler got to meet another dear friend of her Daddy's, Vetta Coleman. Tom coached her son, Rashard, in football and has stayed friends with the family many years later.

Skyler with Vetta (above)

The very next morning, Skyler had breakfast with her cousin Jared and got to spend the day with him. (Jordan had to attend a Bridal shower that morning) We all had a super time together.......especially Jordan & Skyler! They left our home around 4:30 that afternoon and then we got ready for the Florida vs LSU football game. Check out our little sweetie in her Gator outfit that Glammey bought her.......too darling, especially her baby blues! Go Gators.

Miss Personality herself!

Merritt Island Merriment

The Short Family definitely had a fun and fabulous day in Merritt Island, last Saturday. We left Lakeland in the wee hours of the morning to help share in Auntie Kevie's birthday celebration. We all met at this tasty eatery called "Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar" at 8:30 that morning. The breakfast was delicious and the water view dining was very relaxing. Skyler not only got to see her family, but friends from our Labor Day Retreat! There was a total of 12 at our table....Auntie Kevie, Uncle Larry, Cousins Nikki & Jared, Jordan and The VanderBaans,(Ron, Debi, Dan & Jamie) plus us! Cousin Jodi was unable to join us, due to pre-wedding activities. After breakfast, Skyler, Auntie Kevie, Nikki and I drove over to the bride's house to see Jodi.

Skyler giving Auntie Kevie birthday kisses & hugs outside the restaurant.

Skyler soaking up the love from Ron & Debi VanderBaan (above) and Dan VanderBaan (below).

Once we got back to Auntie Kevie and Uncle Larry's pad, we relaxed on the patio. The weather was just beautiful! Here is a "rare" family shot taken in the back yard.

When lunch time rolled around, Auntie Kevie served pulled pork sandwiches with potato salad & chips. Let's not forget the carrot birthday cake for desert! So yummy. I'm sure Skyler could smell that mmmm-mmmm good food, because I think she tried to get a little sneaky by grabbing food off cousin Nikki's plate....lol...(see below)

After lunch, it was play time for Skyler. She loves playing with cousin Jared's girlfriend, Jordan and it's always a treat to see the two of them together. Here are a few pictures of Jordan & Skyler and also two more with cousin Jared.

By 3PM, we had to say goodbye and make a trip to Melbourne, about 30 miles south. Skyler met some very important people in her Daddy's life. First, we went to visit Sue & Roy Crane and Dot (Sue's mother). They live a few blocks away from the house where Tom grew up. Sue is Mike Ferguson's mother and Mike & Tom have been best friends since childhood. It was such an enjoyable visit. Skyler received a beautuiful pink outfit with matching shoes, plus a couple of onesies from her new friends! We're trying to talk them into a trip to Lakeland to watch some Dreadnaught football.

Skyler meeting Sue and Roy for the very first time.

Skyler's voyage to the East coast was not complete until she landed in the arms of her Grandma Iona's best friend, Jean McFarland. It was a very emotional, yet lovely visit as we shared stories about Tom's mother, Iona. As many of you know, we lost Mom to cancer, 17 days after we told her about our pregnancy. It just touched my heart to see our daughter with Mom's dearest and precious friend, Jean.

Jean & Skyler, before she finally fell asleep.

Skyler fell asleep in Jean's arms and stayed dreaming until we arrived home some 2 hours later. It was such a splendid Saturday. We are surrounded by angels! (I just like to call them my family & friends)

Daddy carrying an extremely tired Skyler to the car.

Night-Night!

"There is no doubt that it is around family and home that all greatest virtues, are created, strengthened and maintained." ~ Winston Churchill

A little "Naughty"

Friday means Football.......Dreadnaught Football, of course!

Skyler and I got a little "naughty" showing our LHS pride Friday night. We did our usual hootin' & hollarin' with our friends as we cheered the Dreadnaughts to their 46-14 victory over the Plantation Colonels. It was also their Homecoming Game, so we enjoyed watching the Homecoming Court parade around the track on some pretty fancy cars.

With our buddy, Clayton Knowles.

It was our 3rd LHS football game at Bryant Stadium and Skyler has truly enjoyed each one. She still stays awake for each snap, visits with all her lady friends (especially her favorite, Miss Helen) and wears the cutest orange outfits! Cousin Nikki made her Dreadnaught shirt and bought her the cutest leggings, as you can see in all these photos. Just call Skyler, "Little Miss Fashion." Thanks, cousin Nikki!

Skyler with her favorite Naught fan, Helen Nelson.

Skyler hanging with Clayton's Daddy, Brian.

Meeting a good friend of her Daddy's and a past LHS Football Coach, Chris Davis.

As we were leaving, a very tired Skyler got to meet the wonderful man who married us, LHS Football Chaplain, Pastor George Williams.

P-E-R-F-E-C-T

As many of you know, Skyler started the week of with a wonderful visit from cousin Nikki & cousin Jodi, Auntie Kevie & Uncle Larry, and also Jordan & Dustin. By mid week, she finally had recuperated from all the excitement and fun and then I had to take her to see her pediatrician so she could get her 4 month old shots that Wednesday morning. Talk about going from amusing to annoying real quickly!

Before the Shots

Anyway, Skyler tipped the scale at 13 pounds, 9 ounces and was 25 inches long. She is in the 80 percentile for her height (meaning, she'll have some long legs as she gets older) and she was in the 50 percentile for her weight (average....not too chubby...not too thin.)

Dr. Eanett said she was "PERFECT" and still such a happy, healthy little girl. During the third shot, Skyler she just let out a loud scream and before the nurse could even walk out of the room, she was back to being little Miss Smiley! She was such a champion and I was a proud Mummy! By the time I got her in the car and drove the 4 miles to work, she was passed out. Her next doctor visit will be around her 6 month birthday, November 30th.

After the Shots

Skyler is rolling over more often---flipping herself during tummy time to get to point A to point B, so I'm having to step up my Mum halk-eyed vision! She is still interested in her feet, blowing bubbles and chatting a lot lauder and much more often. Even her laugh has gotten stronger. Patty cake seems to be her favorite game. She also realizes that objects continue to exist even when she can't see them. If a toy falls out off her swing while she's playing with it, she struggles to get down to look for it. Pretty neat stuff. Here she is in one of her many active, silly moods at work. Just another fun day at the office!